"Over the past few months, Mozilla has been working with the Cordova team to integrate Firefox OS into the Cordova framework, making it possible to release Cordova apps on the Firefox OS platform," according to the Mozilla blog post.

Cordova apps are typically written using web technologies - such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript - but are generally hosted on the phone handset, rather than a server. The platform's APIs allow JavaScript to interact with key parts of a phone's hardware, such as the camera and accelerometer. Cordova apps are also packaged using the platform SDKs, and can be made available for installation from each device's app store.

PhoneGap, the Adobe-owned popular platform for cross-platform mobile app development, is a distribution of Apache Cordova.

Mozilla has created a how-to for developers wanting to get started creating Cordova apps on Firefox OS, demonstrating simple apps that can access the compass and accelerometer on Firefox OS handsets.

Firefox OS is designed to install and run apps built using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Open Web APIs developed by Mozilla provide access to core mobile phone and tablet hardware and OS features, such as push messaging functionality.

Reviews of early Firefox OS handsets, such as the ZTE Open, have criticised a lack of responsiveness, slow speed and the basic functionality of apps. However, the OS is being updated frequently, with new releases every quarter. Mozilla has also said that higher end Firefox OS phones will be released this year.